Last-place Blast name Pitton playing coach

"It was time that maybe we had to make a change because this wasn't working," Blast owner Peter Ham said on Thursday as the team prepared to host the Whitby Dunlops on Friday at the civic centre in a 7:30 p.m. Allan Cup Hockey game.

"We're going into the last seven games of the season. We have to run off a string. Whether we will or whether we won't remains to be seen but what was going on with the players and coaching staff, it wasn't working."

Forward Jason Pitton will become the team's playing coach, with general manager Darren Watson as the bench coach.

With just seven games remaining until the playoffs, the Blast are eight points out of the final playoff spot, chasing the Dundas Real McCoys.

Crosby said he is disappointed by the Blast's decision but understands.

"We were 4-13 after Friday and we're at the bottom of the standings in a five-team league," Crosby said.

"I'd love to have seen it through but ... it's a hockey decision. The results weren't there and everyone was frustrated - players, coaches, ownership, management.

"A change or some sort of shakeup had to happen. The decision they made was a change on the bench that might stir something up in a positive way."

The Blast never really seemed to get going under Crosby.

Last Friday, the team gave up five goals in the third period in an 8-2 loss to the Hamilton Steelhawks. But Ham said the most recent loss wasn't the reason for replacing the coach.

"When you look at the frustration that started to set in maybe three weeks ago, you could tell by the players faces and I could tell by Peter Crosby's face," said Ham.

"We owe it to our fans, our sponsors and our players to do the very best we can in an effort to win. They don't want to hear anything about whose fault it is. They're not interested in that.

"They want to have a winning team."

For Crosby, this was the second time in two weeks he has lost a coaching job. Around the end of October, Crosby took over as coach of the Brantford 99ers junior B team and had the team trending in the right direction before he was let go.

"I was let go from the junior B team and it had nothing to do with hockey," he said. "That was a real tough pill to swallow.

"This one was hard to deal with because I enjoy it a lot but this is a hockey decision and I can live with that."

Crosby said he'll take some time to think about things before he decides what's next.

"I'm going to sit back, take collection of everything, reflect on everything and then go from there," said Crosby, who said that coaching the Blast, 99ers and two teams at Paris District High School didn't leave him time to think. "Never say never. Maybe I get the right call.

"Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my experience. I loved being there," he said of the Blast.

Crosby said he respects the job that Ham and Watson are doing.

"I want to take the opportunity to thank them for giving me the opportunity."

Ham didn't rule out a role for Crosby with the Blast down the road.

"Peter Crosby is such a wonderful person and so dedicated to the coaching profession that I don't want to ever shut the door on Peter coming back," he said.

"Never say never in life. It doesn't work that way. You have to remain open minded."

The Blast have a long history of having player coaches but, last year, Ham said he thought those days were over. However, he said he feels this is Brantford's best chance to get into the playoffs.

"I've thought about that many times," he said. "I can be wrong. We have had so much success (with player coaches)."

The Blast will get a boost in their lineup on Friday as longtime defenceman Jeff Caister will make his season debut. Caister's decision to return came before Crosby and the Blast parted ways.